Macular disease: risks and treatments
May is Macula Month, which aims to raise awareness of macular disease. In recognition of this awareness initiative, we sat down with Anna, SCO Noosa’s Senior Clinical Optometrist, to answer some commonly asked questions about the disease that is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia.
What is the macula and macular disease?
The macula is part of the retina at the back of the eye. It is responsible for our central vision, most of our colour vision and the fine detail of what we see.
Macular disease affects the cells around this very sensitive area, leading to disruption in central vision and vision loss in severe cases.
There are two main types of macular disease, the “dry” type, and the “wet” type. The dry type is more common, but it usually progresses slowly (over years). Wet (neovascular) macular degeneration, is characterised by blood vessels that grow under the retina and leak, and is more likely to cause a sudden change in vision, resulting in serious vision loss.
Who is most at risk of macula disease?
Most macular disease happens as we get older, hence the term Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This disease is most common in people over 60.
There are some other risk factors which may increase the likelihood of macular disease, and they include family history and genetics, race (it is more common in Caucasians), smoking, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How is macula disease treated?
At this stage, there is no cure for macular disease.
Some treatments are available for wet macular degeneration, which may slow the disease and keep you from having a severe loss of vision.
Treatments include laser and photodynamic laser therapy, and more commonly, injections of anti-angiogenic drugs into the eye. The injections stop new blood vessels from forming and block the leaking from the abnormal vessels that cause wet macular degeneration. There has been research done that shows benefits if you take a vitamin supplement formula that contains vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
What advice do you have for those recently diagnosed with macula disease?
There are some things you can do to keep your macula healthy which could delay the onset or progression of AMD.
Avoid smoking. If you smoke, ask your doctor for help to quit.
Choose a healthy diet with lots of leafy green vegetables. Avoid too much beta-carotene (carrots)
Manage your other medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
Have routine eye exams, and self-examine with the aid of an Amsler Macular Grid.
Ensure you consult with your doctor or eye health specialist.
Learn more
For more information on macula visit www.mdfoundation.com.au or contact the Sunshine Coast Ophthalmologists at Noosa team.
